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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

Cony-Gardiner challenge games continue

All money from games go to Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care

By Gary Hawkins ghawkins@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

The Drive Out Cancer Challenge continues at Hoch Field in Gardiner tonight and Tuesday with three games between teams from Cony and Gardiner.

Tonight, the girls and boys soccer teams play, beginning with the girls game at 5:30 followed by the boys at 7. At 7 p.m. Tuesday, the field hockey teams meet. All money from concessions, gate receipts and donations will go to the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care in Augusta.

The challenge began Friday night when the Cony and Gardiner football teams met for the 133rd time since the rivalry began in 1892. An estimated crowd of 4,000 turned out for that game, which -- like this week's contests -- was an exhibition. Although the soccer and field hockey teams from the two schools haven't been playing nearly as long as the football teams, their rivalry is a spirited one.

"Red and white against orange and black, it's going to be a competitive game," Cony boys coach Sean Davis said.

The winner of the boys game will be awarded the Kennebec Cup, a trophy designed by former Gardiner coach Bob Hoe. Two years ago, Gardiner came away with the Cup while Cony regained it last fall.

"I'm sure they want to get it back, but we want to keep it," Davis said. "It's a big deal."

Both teams are inexperienced this year, but have played fairly well in the preseason. Gardiner swept four games in a round robin tournament a week ago.

"This is a working group," Gardiner coach K.C. Johnson said. "We'll be all right this year. We're in shape and we're ready to go."

Both girls soccer teams were strong a year ago, Cony in Class A and Gardiner in Class B. Cony won the matchup but sustained some heavy losses to graduation while the Tigers return a pretty good group.

"I have a good nucleus of freshmen, sophomores and seniors and they're starting to play well," first-year Gardiner coach Chad Kirk said. "They just need to bring it every day."

The field hockey rivalry has been a good through the years. Former Cony coach Krista Chase came up with the cancer challenge idea last year, and between them the schools raised $5,000.

This year's take is expected to much larger. In fact, a giant check with the estimated amount will be on display at the game Tuesday night.

Gardiner won the matchup last season and went on to capture the Class B state championship. The Tigers retain a strong nucleus of players who look prepared to make another title run.

Cony, under first-year coach Holly Daigle, has a large squad capable of competing with the teams on its schedule.

As was the case at the football games, honorary captains, whose lives have been affected one way or another by cancer, will be introduced before each game.

In girls soccer, Cony's representative will be Colleen Messina while Gardiner's is Susan Moody Snell. The boys soccer reps are Carroll D. Farmer for Cony and Stacey DelGallo for Gardiner. At the field hockey game, Jessica DeJongh and Bobbie Jordan will represent Cony while Diane Thurston and Dan Paradee will represent Gardiner.

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com